In Poe's poem "The Raven," is the raven a symbol for wisdom?

In a
literary work, symbolism is open to interpretation. One item may seem obviously symbolic to one
reader while the next reader sees it as a simple object. Similarly, the same object might
represent one concept to one reader and a different concept to another reader, or a single
object may have several symbolic meanings. The raven in 's eponymous poem could possibly have
multiple interpretations as a symbol. However, any symbolic interpretation of the raven must be
supported by evidence from the poem.

The most obvious meaning of the unusual
speaking bird is that it represents depression, pessimism, or grief. The bird is black, a
depressing hue and speaks a single pessimistic word, "Nevermore." The persona of the
poem calls it a "prophet," a "devil," and a "thing of evil." These
appellations are consistent with it representing something negative, dark, or harmful. The
speaker assumes it comes from "the Nights Plutonian shore"that is, the underworld or
the abode of...